Ice freezing device



April 14, 1936. J. N. sALER 2,037,517

ICE FREEZING DEVICE Filed Feb. 10, 1934 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 WITNESSES: I INVENTOR v M JULES N. 621.52

ATT

M WWW MW NEY Patented Apr. 14, 1936 PATENT OFFICE 2,037,517 ICE FREEZING DEVICE Jules N. Saler, Springfield, Mass... assignor, to

Westinghouse Electric &

pany, East Pittsburgh, Pa., 11.

Pennsylvania Application February 10,

Manufacturing Comcorporation of 1934, Serial No. 710,611

16 Claims. (Cl. 62-1085) My invention relates to an ice freezing device, and particularly to a device for forming ice blocks suitable, for example, for use in cooling drinks.

It has been heretofore suggested that ice blocks be forcibly removed from ice pans, but such devices have heretofore not worked properly in commercial embodiments, because all the ice blocks were not removed, and shattering of the ice blocks occurred. Removable flexible grids, metallic or otherwise, are also known, but heretofore have been generally used in ice pans wherein the ice blocks were removed from the pan by relatively wartran water or by the application of some other hea My invention contemplates the provision of a flexible wall or grid member, which is disposed in a receptacle for receiving water to be frozen, and which forms ice blocks for domestic use when placed in heat exchanging relation with a refrigerator cooling unit. A metallic receptacle or pan and grid are preferably used to obtain rapid heat transfer between the water to be frozen and the cooling unit. Means are provided for forcibly removing the flexible grid and frozen we blocks from the pan and the ice blocks from the grid without the use of water or heating de-' vices. Means are also provided for breaking an ice bond which forms between the pan and the portion of the cooling unit on which the pan is supported for freezing ice. After the flexible grid member and the ice blocks are forcibly removed from the pan, the flexible grid member permits easy removal of the ice blocks therefrom.

It is an object of my invention, therefore, to provide an ice freezing device including a pan member from which individual ice blocks may be easily obtained without the use of water or heating devices.

It is another object of my invention to provide an ice freezing device wherein the ice blocks are all forcibly removed from the ice panand are not shattered. v

It is another object of my invention to provide for forcibly removing a flexible grid member to- 45 gether with already frozen ice blocks from an ice pan, and, in addition, to provide for breaking an ice bond between the ice pan and a portion of a cooling unit by which the ice pan is supported, the two functions being preferably per- 50 formed by coacting mechanisms.

These and other objects are effected by my invention as will be apparent from the following description and claims taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, forming a part 55 of this application, in which:

' et al., filed Nov.

Fig. 1 is a diagrammatic view'of refrigeration apparatus embodying my invention; I

Fig. 2 is a top view of an ice receptacle or pan constructed in accordance with a preferred embodiment of my invention; 5

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of a flexible metal grid which may be used in practicing my invention; a

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary perspective view of the front of an ice pan supported by the shelf of a m cooling unit and constructed in accordance with a preferred embodiment of my invention;

Fig. 5 is a sectional view of the ice pan with portions in :levation, taken on line V-V of Fig.6; and, p 15 Fig. 6 is a front elevational view of the ice pan.

Referring specifically to the drawings for a detailed description of the, invention, numeral l designates a sealed motor compressor unit of the refrigeration apparatus shown in Fig. 1. 2 Compressed refrigerant is forced to a condenser 2 where it is condensed by cooling. A fan 3 forces air over the condenser and assists in the cooling 'thereof. Condensed refrigerant is supplied to a cooling unit 4 through a regulating device 5. 25 vaporized refrigerant is then withdrawn from the cooling unit 4 by the compressor whereupon the refrigerating cycle is repeated.

The cooling unit 4 is preferably formed to provide a freezing chamber in which shelf means 30 8 are provided. Receptacles or pan members 1, preferably formed of metal, are supported by the shelf means 6, the pan members containing water to be frozen.

Referring to Figs. 2 to 6 for a detailed descrip- 35 tion of a preferred construction of my ice tray, numeral 8 designates a flexible grid, preferably formed of stainless steel strip, bent upon itself in the shape shown in Figs. 2 and 3 to provide a double wall grid which maybe easily flexed 40 when ice blocks are present in the cells thereof. Such a grid is fully described and claimed in application, Serial No. 698,513, G. A. Leyner, 1'7, 1933,,for Ice tray and grid, and assigned to the Westinghouse Electric & Manufacturing Company. Further detailed description of the shape of the grid is, therefore, deemed unnecessary. The grid is preferably formed by providing one end with a portion 9 which overhangs the edge of the ice tray 1 for a 5 purpose hereinafter described. A reinforcing member II is fastened to the grid adjacent the end on which the overhanging portion is provided. The double walls of the grid are spot welded at I0 adjacent the bottom of the grid vided on the front of the pan member 1. An

L-shaped member I4 is pivoted near the bend of the L on a shaft I which bears on the front of the ice pan 1 and on the flange member I 3. Handle means "5 are provided on one end of the L-shaped member for turning it about the pivot IS, the opposite end of the L-shaped member l4 being provided with a cam or toe portion I! for a purpose hereinafter described.

A linkage or lifting member I8 is pivoted at IS on the lower portion of the L-shaped member l4 and extends upwardly to the top edge of the tray 1 when in normal position. Guide members 2| are provided near the top of the tray 1 for guiding the linkage member I 8. The upper end of the linkage member I8 is positioned directly below the overhanging portion 9 of the grid 8, whenthe grid is positioned in the pan member 1 and the L-shaped member I4 is in its normal position during ice freezing.

In operation, when the ice in the pan member 1 is frozen, an ice bond is formed between the pan member I and the shelf members 8, which ice bond must be forcibly broken to remove the pan member 1. In'order to break the bond, the operator turns thehandle end I 6 of the L- shaped member I4 upwardly, which movement turns the toe member l1. downwardly about the pivot-l5 against the shelf member 6. Due to the leverage obtained through the L-shaped member M, the ice bond between the pan memher and the shelf member is easily broken, and the pan member may be removed from the cooling unit 4.

In order to easily and quickly remove the ice blocks from the pan without the use of warm devices, the handle end I 6 of water or heating the L-shaped member is turned further upwardly, thus forcing the linkage member l8 upwardly against the overhung portion 9 of the grid 8. Since the grid member 8 does not flex upwardly because of the stiffening welds at II), the grid member is forced out of the pan member 1, the

ice blocks coming out with the grid member. Because of the inherent flexibility of the grid, the ice blocks may be easily and quickly removed therefrom by flexing the grid.

From the above, it will be obvious that I have provided an improved ice freezing device in which the pan is easily removed from the cooling unit, and the ice blocks are quickly and easily removed from the pan member and grid member without the use of water or heating devices.

While I have shown my invention in but one form, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that it is not so limited, but is susceptible of various changes and modifications, without departing from the spirit thereof, and I desire, therefore, that only such limitations shall be placed thereupon as are imposed by the prior art or as are specifically set forth in the appended claims.

What I claim is:

1. An ice freezing device comprising the combination of a receptacle for containing water tobe frozen, a removable dividing wall therein for forming a plurality of ice blocks suitable for domestic use, said wall being flexible for facili- 2,087,517 so that when an upward lifting force is applied tating the removal of ice cubes from the dividing wall, means for forcibly removing the flexible wall from the receptacle after the liquid is frozen, and means for imparting suflicient stiffness to said wall to resist substantial flexing in the di- 5 rection of the force which is applied to remove the wall from the receptacle while affording flexibility in the remaining directions.

2. An ice freezing device comprising the combination of a receptacle for containing water to 10 be frozen, a removable dividing grid therein for forming a plurality of ice blocks suitable for domestic use, said grid being formed of metal bent to form contiguous, double walls to obtain flexibility with ice blocks frozen therein, and 16 means for forcing the grid from the receptacle after the liquid is frozen therein, the flexible quality of said grid affording removal of the blocks therefrom after the grid and blocks have been forcibly removed from the receptacle. 20

3. An ice freezing device comprising the combination of a pan member for containing water to be frozen, a removable grid member disposed in the pan for forming a plurality of ice blocks,

said grid member being formed of strip metal doubled upon itself to provide contiguous walls for flexibility, and means located on one of said members in position to exert a leverage against the other member, thereby to facilitate separation of the members from each other, said flexible grid member affording removal of the blocks therefrom after the grid member and the blocks have been forcibly removed from the receptacle.

4. An ice freezing device comprising the combination of a cooling unit, a pan member for containing water to be frozen supported by the cooling unit, a removable flexible grid member disposed in the pan member for forming a plurality of ice blocks, means located on the pan in position to exert a leverage against the cooling unit to break an ice bond therebetween, said means also being located in position to exert a leverage on the grid member to facilitate separation of the grid member from the pan, the flexibility of said grid member facilitating removal 4 of the blocks therefrom after the grid member with the blocks have been forcibly removed from the receptacle, and means for imparting to said flexible grid member sufficient stiffness to prevent substantial flexing only in the direction of the force applied for removing it from the pan member.

5. A removable grid for an ice receptacle having a horizontally extending bottom wall and upwardly extending marginal. walls, said grid embodying a strip of sheet metal forming upwardly extending walls dividing said pan into a multiplicity of ice cells and means for imparting suflicient stiffness to saidgrid to prevent substantial flexing of said grid when force in an upward direction is applied near an end thereof. said grid being resiliently yildable in several other directions.

6. A removable grid as claimed in claim 5 wherein said strip of metal is bent to form double walls and the means for imparting stiffness to the grid comprises welds connecting some of said walls.

7. A removable flexible grid member for forming ice blocks in an ice tray, said grid member dividing said tray into four corner cells and a series of intermediate cells disposed in rows and extending between the corner cells, said grid structure embodying a longitudinal division wall and a series of spaced walls projecting transversely on opposite sides thereof, all of aid walls extending about three sides of th in ermediate cells and being formed of two flexible metallic sheets disposed contiguous to each other, and means for imparting sufflcient stiffness to said grid member to prevent substantial flexing in one direction, saidgrid member being flexible in another direction. I

8. A grid structure, as claimed in claim 7 wherein the means for imparting stiffness thereto comprises means for fastening together some of the flexible metallic sli'eets of respective transverse walls. I,

9. An ice freezing device embodying a removable flexible grid structure for disposition in a receptacle for containing liquid to be frozen, said grid structure dividing said receptacle into four corner cells and a series of intermediate cells disposed in rows and extending between the corner cells, said grid structure embodying a longitudinal division wall and a series of spaced walls projecting transversely from opposite sides thereof, all of said walls extending about three sides of the intermediate cells and being formed of two flexible metallic sheets disposed contiguous to each other, and means cooperating with the pan and grid structure to forcibly eject the grid structure from the receptacle after the liquid has'been frozen therein.

10. An ice freezing device as claimed in claim 9 wherein means are provided for imparting sufficient stiflness to said grid structure to prevent substantial flexing in an ejectingdirection.

11. A removable grid for forming ice cells in a metallic, open-top horizontal pan comprising a longitudinally-extending central division wall and a series of lateral walls composed of two thicknesses of material and projecting from opposite sides of the longitudinal wall, said lateral walls being composedof resiliently flexible sheet metal,

and means embodied in lower portions of the lateral walls for retarding flexing movement of the lateral walls when force is applied in an upward direction at an end thereof to remove the grid from the pan.

12. A removable grid for forming ice cells in an open-top, horizontal pan comprising a longitudinally-extending division wall and a series of transverse walls projecting from opposite sides of the longitudinal wall, said transverse walls being composed of two thicknesses of flexible sheet 7 metal arranged back-to-backand said longitudinal wall being composed of flexible sheet metal, whereby' said grid is-resiliently deformable I in several directions, and means located in the lower portions of a plurality'of the transverse walls for securing the two thicknesses of sheet metal to each other to prevent relative longitudinalmovement therebetween, whereby the grid is substantially rigid when moved in an upward direction out of the pan.

13. A removable grid for forming ice cubes in an open-top, horizontal pan comprising a longitudinally-extending division wall anda series of transverse walls projecting from opposite sides of the longitudinal wall, saidtransverse walls being composed of two thicknesses of flexible sheet metal arranged back-to-back and said'longitudinal wall being composed of flexible sheet metal, whereby said grid is inherently resiliently deform-, able in several directions, means located in the lower portions of a plurality of the transverse walls for securing the two thicknesses of sheet metal to each other to prevent relative longitudinal movement therebetween, and means applicable to an end of the grid for'forcibly raising the latter upwardly out of the pan, said securing means rendering the grid substantially rigid when .force in an upward direction is applied at an end thereof, whereby removal of the grid from the pan is facilitated while afiording subsequent distortion of the gridin directions other than "upward" to facilitate the removal of the ice cubes from the grid.

14. A removable grid for forming ice cells in an open-top, horizontal pan comprising a longitudinally-extending central division wall and a series of transverse walls formed upon and projecting from opposite sides of the longitudinal wall, both said longitudinal and transverse walls being composed of two thicknesses of flexible sheet-metal, and means located in a lower portion of each transverse wall for flxedly securing the two sheets 'to each other, whereby the grid is relatively rigid nally-extending central division wall and a series of transverse walls formed upon and projecting from opposite sides of the longitudinal wall, both said longitudinal and transverse walls being com.-

posed of two thicknesses of flexible sheet metal.

and means located in a lower and inner portion of each transverse wall for fixedly securing the two sheets to each other, whereby the grid is relatively rigid when force is applied in an upward direction to remove the grid from the pan and relatively resiliently flexible when force is applied to the grid in other directions.

16. A flexible grid structure for dividing an open pan into four corner cells and a series of intermediate cells disposed in rows and extending between the corner cells comprising a longitudinally-extending division wall and a series of secondary walls projecting transversely from each side of said longitudinal wall and disposed in spaced relation with respect to each other, both said longitudinal and secondary walls being composed of two thicknesses of sheet metal, the outer ends of the secondary walls being formed, respectively, by a fold in the sheet metal, the upper and lower edges of the two thicknesses of metal forming the secondary walls being exposed, respectively, in the planes of the top and bottom of the 

